Throughout the Bible, God chose men and women to serve as part of His plan. Some answered eagerly, with hearts and minds prepared for the Lord’s work. Some were reluctant—hiding from God, or even disobeying Him. They came from all different backgrounds and classes, showing us that God can choose anyone, even you and me, to serve. Matthew worked as a publican, collecting taxes from his fellow Jews for the occupying Roman government; as you might guess, he was pretty unpopular in his community. Ye...
Apr 01, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1526
A really cool thing about God is that He has a solution for literally every situation. And that includes mental health. We see this especially in the ministry of Jesus, who walked the land healing people of all sorts of terrible things. One day He encountered a man driven insane by demons. Mark 5:15 says, “They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the ‘legion’; and they became frightened.” The “Legio...
Mar 29, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1525
For some reason, people sometimes tell big lies when it comes to fishing. You know—what was really a small fry becomes a man-eating shark in the retelling of the story. But that is nothing compared to a really incredible story in the Old Testament book of Jonah. It seems the prophet didn’t want to preach in the pagan city of Nineveh, so he sailed away on a ship. He forgot that God controls the sea and everything in it, and Jonah found himself tossed overboard, and then swallowed by a huge fish. ...
Mar 28, 2024•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1524
One of the extraordinary stories in the Bible involves a young woman named Rahab. This story beautifully expresses God’s love for all people. Rahab lived in the Canaanite town of Jericho, which was near the border of the Promised Land God had promised to His people, who had been wandering for years in search of a home after slavery in Egypt. Because the Canaanites were so powerful, Joshua sent a scouting party into the land to see what they were up against. The men sent ahead were hidden from ha...
Mar 27, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1523
The Bible is full of stories of God doing amazing things for those He calls. One of the most famous seems too good to be true—but it is! Daniel, God’s man in exile in Babylon, insisted on worshiping the Lord, and not a human king. This was against the law. When those who were jealous of him urged the king to punish Daniel, the prophet was thrown into a lion’s den overnight. And that was that…or was it? The next morning the king was so anxious about Daniel that he ran to the den and called out to...
Mar 26, 2024•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1522
Have you ever gotten so tired of life that you wished you could disappear and start over somewhere else? Ever wish that fantasy would just pull you out of your circumstances? They make movies about things like that, but it’s not real. John 14:2–3 says, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also...
Mar 25, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1521
Few of us enjoy chaos. It’s just too...chaotic, right? The human mind needs order and peace, yet we live in this messy world. Stuff is flying by all the time, and we duck. Our relationships are a mess, and we have to schedule that root canal...while simultaneously making dinner and cleaning the house. Is there a way out? Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God...
Mar 22, 2024•2 min
Jill felt like she couldn’t keep up anymore. Four years out of college, she was doing well in her chosen career. But it had not only taken her far from home, it took her away from the values she had known her whole life. This new place she lived in pressed in on her mind and heart. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Burdened by her stresses, Jill realized something had to change. But in that unique way He has, God showed her that she didn’t necess...
Mar 21, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1519
In the spring of 2014, Daniel and Colleen Jaquith, American missionaries to the Philippines, were awakened suddenly by the sounds of gunfire and shouts. Before they could react, a gunman appeared in their bedroom doorway, and he was holding a gun to the head of a pastor. Demanding money, the intruder was distracted when that pastor suggested he look in another part of the room for money. This gave the pastor just enough time to overpower him. This whole time, the Jaquiths were on their knees—pra...
Mar 20, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1518
When Richard Winters stood in the doorway of a huge glider in the pre-dawn over Normandy, France, he thought about a lot of things. The young army captain was preparing for the invasion of Europe, to free the continent from the Nazis. He knew one thing first: he could not survive on his own skill. Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” A disciplined soldier, Winters li...
Mar 19, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1517
Do you get tired of being alone or afraid? Have you had enough of feeling like you can’t take any more stress? If you’re honest with yourself, there are times when you think you’re just going to lose it. The cares of this world can be like that. You stress about not having enough money each month just to pay your bills. You can’t sleep at night because your mind is racing, striving to create a workable plan for every possible scenario. And no one can actually do that successfully. So what do you...
Mar 18, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1516
Sharing our faith should be exciting to us. It is exciting. When we consider the free grace God gave us through His Son, telling others about Jesus should be on our priority list every day. For whatever reason, many find it very awkward to talk to others about Jesus. We can talk about just about anything else, though. That’s why it’s crucial that we look at sharing the Gospel as an intentional thing we do. Intentionality is a great way to overcome our hesitancy, and let’s be honest, sometimes fe...
Mar 15, 2024•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1515
Do you ever feel that you aren’t suited for sharing your faith in Christ? Maybe you’re not comfortable around people. Maybe you’ve encountered some who are hostile to faith. If so, then we are speaking to you about sharing your light in a dark world. Philippians 2:15 says, “Shine...like the stars in the sky.” Have you seen the movie, “The Ten Commandments?” It’s doubtful the real Moses looked and talked like Charlton Heston. And do we really think God looks for His witnesses among people who hav...
Mar 14, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1514
Some of the greatest stories of believers down through time have involved those who really studied God’s Word. These people have gone before us to show us the way. From Charles Spurgeon to a missionary mother in China, daily study of the Word, and prayer, prepared them to mentor entire generations. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another.” We also read in Romans 10 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We have to do it, so that others know how. R...
Mar 13, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1513
The Bible’s book of Daniel tells us that one day knowledge and innovation will increase exponentially in our world. And it could be surmised that the prophet was looking ahead to our day, but maybe he was looking even further. The technological advances of the 21st century are no secret. In the ancient world, an ocean voyage could take months. Now, a person can have breakfast in New York City and dinner in Paris. Communication is beyond anything our grandparents could have imagined. The number o...
Mar 12, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1512
Kerusso exists to tell people about the Good News of Jesus Christ, but somehow in our information-jacked world, culture has moved further away from understanding who the most famous person in history really is. Millions of books and articles have been written about a carpenter who lived in the Middle East 2000 years ago, and Jesus has been identified as anything from a desert mystic to God Himself. Historically, He was born into a Jewish family in Judea at the time the Roman Empire controlled th...
Mar 11, 2024•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1511
Let’s think about something deep today: What is the end game? In this context, we’re talking about what comes after this life we are living now. Believers of course look forward to an eternity with the Living God. And even unbelievers wonder about what comes next after you draw your last breath. As it says in Ecclesiastes, He has set eternity in our hearts. It’s the most important element in our discussion this week. Romans 5:3–4 says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because w...
Mar 08, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1510
A huge benefit of being a believer is the knowledge that we can help others after going through the valley ourselves. It’s one thing to endure and overcome and find our joy, but it’s maybe even better when you see a friend emerge into the light because you were there for them. Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” When you’re in the middle of something difficult, it’s hard to even think. Scripture tells us the way out, but it helps to have someone in ...
Mar 07, 2024•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1509
When you think of ships, whether you’re thinking of the Titanic, pirate ships of yore, or trading vessels crossing the vast ocean to bring goods and services from one country to another, you probably picture them with an anchor—a heavy metal hook designed to catch on the ocean floor and keep a boat or ship in place. Wikipedia says this about anchors: There are two main types of anchors: temporary and permanent. A permanent anchor is called a mooring block and is not easily moved. A temporary anc...
Mar 06, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1508
We all screw up. We all fail in some way. We fall short of goals, or get embarrassed in some kind of career implosion or other events. It’s easy then to feel like we’ll never win again. That is not how God sees you. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Hope and a future. That’s what’s ahead, not depression and failure. The Bible is full of stories of people God would not a...
Mar 05, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1507
Our world needs many things. We have political concerns, environmental concerns, broken relationships, and disease that still stalks too many countries. It’s also true that God doesn’t leave us in despair. He doesn’t allow our problems to overcome us, if we trust Him. Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This is our anchor, the blessing of hope. This week we’re talking abo...
Mar 04, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1506
In Christ, we experience peace that is so remarkable, it isn’t naturally part of this world. As we think about the power forgiveness has for us and others, let’s think about how forgiving someone lifts a huge burden off our minds. Matthew 5:23–24 says, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift.” Notic...
Mar 01, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1505
How much can one person take, and still choose to offer kindness? In Genesis Chapter 37, verses 12–36, 17-year-old Joseph is sent by his father to visit his brothers, who were tending the family’s flock of sheep in the countryside. Rather than the friendly check-in he expected, Joseph’s brothers initially plotted to kill him out of jealousy, but instead sold him into slavery to a group of Ishmaelites heading for Egypt. Among the brothers, only Reuben wished to leave Joseph unharmed, attempting (...
Feb 29, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1504
Is there someone in your life whose forgiveness you need? Legendary cowboy actor Roy Rogers said something profound. He said that sometimes it hurts to do the right thing, but afterwards, you’ll feel better. When it comes to forgiveness, this certainly applies to choosing to forgive someone who has wronged you. But have you considered that it can be even tougher to ask for someone’s forgiveness? Humans hate to fail, and most of us hate looking foolish. It hurts. Maybe you’ve hurt someone recentl...
Feb 28, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1503
One of the most corrosive elements in the human character is unforgiveness. Bitterness and fighting in relationships is really a drain. Physically and emotionally, we’re simply not wired to survive long-term problems in this area. According to Dr. Michael Berry, 61% of cancer patients have forgiveness issues. And Dr. Karen Schwartz of the Johns Hopkins Hospital confirms that the hurt and disappointment associated with forgiveness issues can spike incidents of heart disease, depression, and diabe...
Feb 27, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1502
Even though most U.S. homes have at least one copy of the Bible, few know what’s in it. There are all sorts of things: wisdom for living, history, spiritual food. It’s the Bible’s practical value that hooks most people who read it. The Bible says a lot about money, how to raise kids, and even how to strengthen your marriage. It also tells us a lot about forgiveness. Forgiveness is mentioned dozens of times in the Bible. In Genesis 33, Esau forgives his brother Jacob’s treachery in stealing his b...
Feb 26, 2024•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1501
Does your love for God make your heart sing? The psalms, many of them, were written as songs of worship. King David in particular, loved to sing praises to His Lord. Whether he was tending his flock under a night sky, or sitting in his palace in Jerusalem, David had a heart for the Lord. Psalm 104:1 says, “Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.” In this kind of worship, we feel especially close to God. It is then we focus on His maje...
Feb 23, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1500
We all want to feel secure. We can look fine on the outside, but be something much less on the inside. And the first step to overcoming vulnerability is to feel okay with who we are. Psalm 62:5–6 says, “Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on Him. God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe, and he is the fortress where I feel secure.” The tension comes when we balance healthy self-esteem with our sin nature. Can we feel good about ourselves, while recognizing that we desperately need a...
Feb 22, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1499
The big question for today is—how do you develop a prayer life? The answer to how we develop a healthy prayer life is really not that complicated. It’s all about choice. We can learn to pray first by reading scripture and taking notice of the hundreds of prayers offered by believers just like us. We can also talk with veterans of prayer in our own life, those who are older and deeper in their faith. But notice something about the prayers recorded in the Bible. They aren’t contrived or intellectu...
Feb 21, 2024•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1498
Nikki couldn’t leave her apartment—sometimes for days, her anxiety about everything from health issues to the weather had hijacked her life. She needed help. One morning after she had talked with a friend on the phone, she heard someone outside her door, and it was her friend. The woman simply announced herself and then pushed a piece of paper under Nikki’s door. And the only thing written on the paper was Psalm 94:19, which says, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy t...
Feb 20, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1497
